U.s. Goalie Goes Pro

SPORTS THIS MORNING

December 17, 1989

TONY MEOLA, the starting goaltender on the U.S. national team and college soccer's player of the year, said he will give up his last two years of eligibility at the University of Virginia and turn pro. Meola, a sophomore from Kearny, N.J., said he hopes to sign with an Italian first-division team after the World Cup next summer. Meola, whose parents were born in Italy, had the nation's best goals-against average this season, 0.37. He led the Cavaliers to a 21-2-3 record and an NCAA co-championship.